Site Search Navigation

Site Navigation

Site Mobile Navigation

So You Want to Be Senator? First, Fill This Out

By Nicholas Confessore January 8, 2009 6:40 pmJanuary 8, 2009 6:40 pm

You, too, could be the next United States senator from New York. But first, Gov. David A. Paterson has some questions for you. Ever been fired from a job? Ever been disciplined by a bar association, suspended from school, or audited by Uncle Sam? Ever belonged to a club that restricted admission based on race, skin color, or religion? Ever employed a nanny or maid who was in the country illegally? And are you now, or have you ever been, a blogger?
Those are just a few of the dozens of topics covered by a questionnaire that Mr. Paterson is requiring the top contenders for the Senate job [pdf] to submit to his office by the end of the day.

Though the questionnaire was sent to candidates last week and its existence reported on Monday, the Paterson administration has so far denied all requests from the news media for more information on the forms, declining to release the raw questionnaire and saying they will not release even partly redacted copies of the completed documents.

“The vetting process is confidential,” Risa B. Heller, the governor’s spokeswoman, said in a statement.

But the copy provided to The Times provides a detailed glimpse of the kind of sensitive information being sought by the governor. In some respects, the questionnaire is a kind of survey of every scandal that has afflicted state and federal politicians in recent history. If answered truthfully, the questionnaire would screen for those candidates who hired illegal immigrants, wrote controversial blogs on the side, or did not file their tax returns.

There are also more current questions. The candidates must disclose, for example, any affiliation they or family members have with any financial, insurance or mortgage firms that have been the target of investigation or aid during the current fiscal crisis. (Recall that James A. Johnson, the former Fannie Mae executive, was forced to resign from Barack Obama’s vice-presidential search committee when Fannie Mae’s loan business came under scrutiny.)

The questionnaire effectively provides a thorough background check of all the contenders for the Senate job — and, potentially, place an extraordinary amount of information in the hands of Mr. Paterson and his aides. Contenders must agree to have their finances audited by the state’s Department of Taxation and Finance and to release to the administration any findings by any law enforcement agency or disciplinary body.

A spokesman for Caroline Kennedy, a top contender for the job, said Ms. Kennedy had completed the questionnaire.

But the questionnaire does not specify who in the administration would have access to the completed document, which would provide ready-made opposition research on any contender who completed it. Those said to be interested for the job include nearly all of Mr. Paterson’s potential rivals within the Democratic Party, including Andrew M. Cuomo, the state attorney general.

A spokesman for Mr. Cuomo declined to say whether Mr. Cuomo had received the questionnaire or had returned it to Mr. Paterson.

Barbara Bartoletti, the legislative director of the League of Women Voters, harshly criticized the governor’s decision to keep the questionnaires secret.

“That is extraordinarily troubling,” Ms. Bartoletti said. “There is no reason why the governor’s office doesn’t release this type of form, before it’s completed and after it’s completed.”

She added: “The problem we’ve been getting into is that there is not enough transparency in vetting of high-level positions. It would have gone a great distance in mitigating many issues that have befallen senators from Alaska to Illinois. I don’t understand why the governor wouldn’t release this.”

I commend the Governor for doing what he can to add a patina of transparency to a process that has always been cloaked in secrecy. That’s why we have elections in New York State – or, at least – used to.

And no, Mr. Confessore, I don’t think I can be the next U.S. senator from New York as no one is going to appoint me – I’m simply not famous enough, rich enough, or spring from a political or economic dynasty. In other words, I’m much too much like most New Yorkers to be chosen by one man (one very good man, I might add) to represent us all. That, too, is why we used to have elections…to at least maintain the illusion that we’re all together in this.

Am I a blogger on the side? Oh, yes, and I love it. In fact, the more controversial, the better.

Here are another two “questions” from the questionaire:

29. You are walking down the street one day when you notice that Mayor Bloomberg has fallen into a pothole and is clinging to the edge for dear life. Do you:
a. Rush right over and extend a helping hand?
b. Rush right over and step on his fingers?
c. Before doing either a. or b., demand money from him?

356. You have been appointed U.S. senator from New York State, and you’re conducting your first press conference. A journalist asks you a personal question. Do you:
a. Answer truthfully?
b. Lie like a rug?
c. Scream at the journalist and threaten a tax audit?

Aw Geez – anyone who’s taken the time to download and view this questionnaire knows it a piece of political propaganda.

No one who matters need fill out the form – does David think we’re that stupid?

In his effort to seem “above board” with “clean hands”, Gov. Paterson would have been wiser to create a more realistic means of vetting than some mulit-page application form that is laughable in its content and, probably, also its intent.

David – just go with your “gut”. You will command great respect from all NY’ers if you choose “whomever” based upon your serious consideration of what is best for the State of New York.

Whether it’s her or him or whomever – make a reasoned choice and honestly explain to us why you did so. Oh, and tell your staff and advisors to “cool it” with the application nonsense – it’s demeaning to all of us to think you would rely on such a tool for such a position.

I like Governor Patterson. I’m glad he’s our governor, and that he intends to run again. Mr. Spitzer shocked and disappointed many of us, but his choice of running mate has turned out to be a nice surprise. As Governor of New York, a pretty weighty position, Mr. Patterson has maintained his light touch and sense of humor, and has eased us along even in these perilous economic times.

His questionaire is a great idea. And yes, it should be held confidential. It’s a good way for him to assess the many candidates who want to replace Hillary in the senate. It will be another way for us to assess his actions in his choice:

Andrew Cuomo (to eliminate a future rival in the next
race for governor), or Caroline Kennedy (to bring some
federal goodies to our state). My own feeling is that
these two are the front runners, and that he will choose
one of them.

Barbara Bartoletti, the legislative director of the League of Women Voters, harshly criticized the governor’s decision to keep the questionnaires secret.

“That is extraordinarily troubling,” Ms. Bartoletti said. “There is no reason why the governor’s office doesn’t release this type of form, before it’s completed and after it’s completed.”

——

Frankly because until someone IS a PUBLIC official or has paid all the appropirate fees and filled out all the appropriate forms and is on the ballot, their personal information is NONE of her d**n business!!!

A couple of points about this “questionnaire”: (1) There’s no request for personal references, business references or banking references; (2) There’s no request for a statement from the potential appointee as to why s/he wants the job or believe s him/herself to be qualified. Based on this, it appears that Governor Paterson already has a pretty good idea whom he intends to appoint, and is looking solely to cover his bases on potential negatives or scandals that have not previously come to light.

So, I mean, I’m quite offended that the Governor did not send me a questionnaire, I’ve decided not to apply, and the State of New York will probably never know how fine a Senator it lost.

On the other hand, perhaps Governor Paterson can extend the filing deadline for one week to allow those New Yorkers who want to apply to fill out the form and submit it for consideration. And since it’s all a pretendocracy to begin with, there’s no harm in pretending…

So I’ll answer a few of the questions right now…

Have you ever been fired from a job?
No. I’ve always resigned before they could fire me.

Ever been disciplined by a bar association?
Yes. I’ve been thrown out of many bars – and even a fancy restaurant, or two.

Ever been suspended from school?
What’s a school?

Ever had your taxes audited?
Haven’t we all?

Ever belonged to a club that restricted admission based on race, skin color, or religion?
Certainly not. I never go to clubs.

Ever employed a nanny or maid who was in the country illegally?
No. My nanny is a legal member of the Witness Protection Program.

The laudable principle of transparency aside, this questionnaire is far too intrusive.

Have you ever been fired from a job?
–Please. Who would fire Caroline Kennedy?

Have you ever been audited?
–Again, much less likely for the wealthy and politically powerful.

Have you ever blogged?
–No comment.

As with the Obama questionnaire that asked whether the applicant had ever kept a diary whose disclosure would be embarrassing (What diary wouldn’t have that effect?), the screen being used here is so fine that it will keep out not just the bad apples, but any honest, candid, uncalculating person who’s had anything resembling a life.

And, as discussed, once information like that is in a government computer system, who knows what will be done with it?

Why is the governor asking for, in essence, a job application. We all know he’s going to give the job to the rich girl with the expensive threads and the famous name. Her interview was pathetic, much like the state of NY should they appoint her to serve as a US Senator.

Ya know I will fill out your form but ya know my friends on Fifth Avenue said I needed to work ya know and told me to sound like Toity Third and Third ya know if I was going to get the Senate job ya know I went to fancy private schools and Harvard ya know where I learned elocution ya know but it never stuck with me ya know.

“And no, Mr. Confessore, I don’t think I can be the next U.S. senator from New York as no one is going to appoint me – I’m simply not famous enough, rich enough, or spring from a political or economic dynasty. In other words, I’m much too much like most New Yorkers to be chosen by one man (one very good man, I might add) to represent us all. That, too, is why we used to have elections…to at least maintain the illusion that we’re all together in this.”

Number one, did you read the editorial written by David Einhorn in the New York Times print edition on January 3? It was a significant swipe at the same kind of thinking in financial markets.

I am not a socialist, though I do share some very left wing ideas about society and capitalism. I would like to say that I think there is a huge change coming in the next year or so into how all of these financial companies, funds and “independent” ratings agencies operate. And I think it won’t be pretty.

These types of screening mechanisms lead this voter to ponder why the appointing parties (such as the NY Governor and the President-elect) should not, in a show of good faith, publish their own answers to the prescribed forms.

This week’s free Our Town-West Side Spirit has a front page article about Caroline Kennedy in which it states that she’s another mom reentering the work field.
When did she ever work?
They’re such blantant social climbers.

Some of these questions are the most perposterous I have ever seen. Are you a blogger and what is the URL of your blog? Please list your facebook or myspace links plus those of your family. What is your health like?

Come on…some of these questions are good but really dont we have more important things to be worrying about then what doctor’s senator’s visit and what there kids have on their facebooks?

I’ve completed the Governor’s questionnaire (for real, and without satire), and will be sending it to Albany. Earlier today, I contacted the Governor’s Appointment Office to obtain the correct mailing address and contact person – they took my number, saying, “We want to get you the correct information.”

So far, no call back.

What's Next

Looking for New York Today?

New York Today is still going strong! Though no longer on City Room, New York Today continues to appear every weekday morning, offering a roundup of news and events for the city. You can find the latest New York Today at nytoday.com or in the morning, on The New York Times homepage or its New York section. You can also receive it via email.

Lookin for Metropolitan Diary?

Metropolitan Diary continues to publish! Since 1976, Metropolitan Diary has been a place for New Yorkers, past and present, to share odd fleeting moments in the city. We will continue to publish one item each weekday morning and a round-up in Monday's print edition. You can find the latest entries at nytimes.com/diary and on our New York section online.

About

City Room®, a news blog of live reporting, features and reader conversations about New York City, has been archived. Send questions or suggestions by e-mail.